NAN-F-9
Cleric
Baghdad, March 24, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Iraq’s influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Friday raised an alarm that his allegations of entrenched government corruption may get him killed.
Al-Sadr showed up at a massive pro-reform rally staged by his loyalists in Baghdad and called on them to continue what he described as a peaceful reform revolution, even if he is “assassinated.”
“I advise you to continue the reform revolution indefatigably even if they succeeded in assassinating me.
“I do not fear their threats to kill me.
“If they succeeded in assassinating me, then consider my words a will,” the firebrand cleric said.
Thousands of al-Sadr’s followers had gathered in central Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, where five people were killed in February when pro-reform protests turned violent.
The demonstrators, waving the national flag, chanted slogans against what they called “corrupt officials” and demanded a revamp of the electoral system.
In recent months, al-Sadr, 43, has repeatedly called for a government formed of independent technocrats and for officials suspected of corruption to be brought to justice.
Iraqi governments have been formed along political and sectarian lines since the U.S.-led 2003 invasion that deposed dictator Saddam Hussein.
Critics said the system contributes to corruption and incompetency in state institutions.
Al-Sadr’s push for reform comes as Iraq is engaged in a U.S.-backed campaign aimed at driving Islamic State from Mosul, which is the extremist militia’s last key stronghold in the country. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Sadiya Hamza